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Opposition chief Raila Odinga yesterday used a highly-well choreographed event for musicians in Central Kenya’s heartland to test the waters in support of his 2022 presidential campaign.

Raila, who was accompanied by his close family members, several Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) governors and MPs was hosted by business mogul SK Macharia at his Murang’a home, a function which his allies used to help him explain that he was a friend of Mt Kenya people.

Though there was heavy representation of Cabinet Secretaries, the function was a replica of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) campaign rallies with key politicians rallying support for of the Handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila.

A sign of his dramatic change of fortunes, the opposition chief was accorded a grand welcome in a region which has been hostile to him in past elections.

And some leaders at the event attended by Cabinet Secretaries and governors from Mt Kenya could barely disguise their intention to market Raila as he fights to make inroads to a region that is expected to decide the winner of next year’s presidential election.

His message was clear: the region owes him and his family a debt for having twice supported leaders from the mountain to clinch the presidency.

The function turned into a platform for criticism of Deputy President William Ruto’s presidential ambitions and stake for the Mt Kenya vote.

Raila said his trip to Murang’a – incidentally the backyard of the  Second Liberation veterans Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia – was the start of his countrywide tours to unite the country.

Gatanga is also the constituency of former MP Peter Kenneth, a member of Raila’s inner circle.

“This is a new dawn for Kenyan politics and it marks the beginning of a journey to unite the country.

We shall be going to all parts of the country with an aim of preaching peace to the people,” he said in a brief speech.

He added: “This is a new movement that has been born and we shall be going together as a team to all parts of the country in a show of solidarity.”

Raila took a dig at Ruto, whom he accused of encouraging a culture of handouts in the name of the Hustler movement.

His allies emphasised that the Mt Kenya region owes him a political debt by supporting his ambitions.

“We don’t have a problem with paying debts but let’s start with the 1963 debt of Jaramogi Oginga.

The 2013 debt is too recent,” said Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, in reference to Raila’s father Jaramogi’s decision to decline the country’s leadership in favour of founding President Jomo  Kenyatta on the eve of Kenya’s independence.

On the other hand, Ruto’s allies argue that Uhuru had in 2013 promised to support Ruto to succeed him in next year’s elections.

Those at the gathering which was convened to ostensibly discuss the welfare of musicians included host governor Mwangi Wa Iria and his colleagues Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Muriithi, Alfred Mutua (Machakos), James Nyoro (Kiambu), James Ongwae (Kisii), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu) and Ann Waiguru of Kirinyaga.

There was a strong delegation of Nyanza politicians led by Senators Senator James Orengo (Siaya), Okong’o  Omogeni (Nyamira); MPs Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay Woman Rep), Junet Mohammed (Suna East) and Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) who joined their Central Kenya counterparts Ngugi Nduati (Gatanga), Ruth Mwaniki (Gatundu North) and Maina Kamanda (Nominated).

Kamanda said Raila had sacrificed a lot for the country and it was time to reward him for his efforts.

Kamanda  said the history of how Jaramogi and Jomo laid a foundation for the country’s development cannot be forgotten.

“All that Odinga did was not for himself but for the nation and this portrays him as a selfless leader who had the interests of the people at heart,” said the MP. 

SK Macharia, a long-standing friend of the Odinga family and owner of the Royal Media Services, traced the relationship to Jaramogi’s time as vice-president.

The media mogul has been one of Raila’s key supporters in Central Kenya.

The ODM leader has consistently been struggling to fight the notion that he was anti-Mt Kenya people.  

Human rights

And though he has not officially declared his intention to run in the 2022 General Election, there is open talk by Uhuru’s supporters that he could be the Handshake candidate. 

In a recent meeting of Kikuyu business leaders, Raila said he was “ready to climb the mountain” to explain his dream for the country.

 Yesterday, Kamanda said leaders from the region were ready to support Raila in his bid to become Kenya’s next president.

Siaya Senator Orengo used the occasion to rally support for the Opposition chief.

“Raila is so clean that there is nothing to clean. What is dirty is our politics.  We are part of you Mt Kenya,” said the senator.

Waiguru said the region was keen to remain united until the election.

“We are not people who can be swayed from side-to-side; we follow one direction and when elections come we shall vote as a block,” said the Kirinyaga Governor. 

Nyong’o said Raila’s track record speaks for itself and it qualified him as the best presidential candidate. 

Nyong’o said the nation needs a leader who will uphold democracy and human rights as the former premier has been doing.

“Anybody who wants to become the president should open his history book for the people to see what he has done for the country,” he said.

His Machakos counterpart Mutua, took a dig at Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s decision to walk out of the opposition coalition Nasa, which brought him together with Raila, ANC chief Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula.

“I have seen Raila Odinga has been on the forefront in support of some of Maendeleo Chap Chap manifestos like manufacturing. We are working together with everybody to better the lives of our people.

Those who wish to quit the government should do so and we be left with those who want to serve the people,” said the governor who is locked in a supremacy battle with Kalonzo.

Former MP Kenneth urged leaders to embrace a discussion that will help improve the livelihood of the people. 

“It’s not yet time for campaigns but I can assure you things will get hot as we approach the general election but we should not lose focus,” he said. 

“We as a region shall go for the leader who will look at the interests of the local people. Politics is a matter of interest and we can only go where we shall be best taken care of.”

Kieni MP Kanini Kega said he shall volunteer to take the ODM leader to tour the region and sell his agenda to the local people.

He said the famous Handshake between Raila and Uhuru was a noble political move that had seen the country gain political stability.

“I encourage Raila to feel free to visit any part of Mt Kenya region as often as he can so as to popularilise himself among the people,” he said.